The Fall is a very busy season for gardeners. As you continue to harvest your late-summer vegetables, and clean up and prepare for winter, remember to take time to enjoy the beautiful gardens of Autumn.

September, October and November is a great time of year to plant trees and shrubs - many trees and shrubs have a greater survival rate if planted in the fall due to better soil conditions, air temperature and rainfall.

The Fall is the time to decide which bulbs you want to bloom in the Spring and to start planning and planting.

Some popular Autumn gardens in our area consist of varieties of cabbages, ornamental grasses, chrysanthemums and pansies (to name a few):

• The "mum" is considered the widely associated autumn garden plant.
• Garden mums can be transplanted in bud or in full flower.
• The range of color is widespread consisting of white, lavender, gold, pink, red, purple, apricot and yellow.
• Mums flower in many forms: singles, doubles, pom-poms, buttons, spider and spoon-shaped.
• Chrysanthemums have a pleasing scent.
• One drawback; if a mum hasn't formed a basal rosette of new leaves after blooming, it will not be able to withstand a harsh winter.

• Ornamental grasses need very little attention and look attractive for most of the year.
• Grasses in the Fall can create a natural, softening effect to a landscape - also adds movement.
• Grasses range in size from short (blue fescue) to very tall - 15 feet (ravenna grass).
• Colors range from blues, reds and greens with varying leaf shapes and sizes.
• Many grasses in winter turn a sandy color that accents their unique form in a winter landscape.

• Add interest in shape, form and color with hardy cabbages.
• Cabbages come in a variety of colors including purple, green shades and white.
• Hardy enough to withstand cooler temperatures.

• A popular bedding plant in both Spring and Fall.
• Available in almost any color.
• Range in size from 1/2" to 2".
• Some pansies will reseed themselves and if protected over the winter, can survive to bloom a second year.
• Young pansies can make it through several freezes in late September and October, but are usually hardy enough to tolerate these conditions.
• Select partial shade to full sun for an ideal location.